New faces are popping up. One familiar name has disappeared. And some longtime players continue to change with the times. Here’s a look at what’s going on.
With uncertainty hanging in the air regarding the future of the Saturn line of vehicles, Don Ringler decided to quit selling that brand.
Ringler said this is a good opportunity to use the facility to expand their brisk used car business. They are now using the store to expand their certified, used E-Cars operation, and have established the Don Ringler Purchasing Center. The center buys used trucks, RVs and trailers, and sells vehicles on consignment.
For Saturn fans, Ringler said some of those models are close relatives to Chevrolets (they’re actually built in the same factory) and they could find a like vehicle at his Chevy store in South Temple. As for current Saturn owners, Ringler’s Chevrolet location on Interstate 35 will perform Cross Line Warranty work.
Stanley Ford, a large dealership with 27 stores, including eight in Texas, last month purchased Fisher Vincent Ford in Belton.
The dealership has access to inventory at their other locations - about 2,500 vehicles - through the Internet.
Store manager Brian Scott said owner James Stanley was excited about expanding to Bell County.
“This right here is one of James Stanley’s most proud purchases,” Scott said. “This store has a very nice reputation. My average employee has been here eight or nine years. My service manager’s been here 23 years. It’s a good group of folks and they’re all from around here.”
In north Temple, Johnson Brothers Ford manager Kenny McCarty said they are happy with their decision to purchase a Lincoln Mercury dealership last August when the Jerry Miller store closed.
“Probably the biggest change to our dealership has been Lincoln Mercury and the great product lines for the last six months that have been rolled out,” McCarty said. “We have been blessed with some fine vehicles.”
Mac Haik Dodge in Temple added Chrysler Jeep products at their Interstate 35 location when they purchased that franchise from Jerry Miller last August.
In January, A.G. and Bradley Whitis announced they would open Automax Hyundai of Temple at the former Jerry Miller location. General manager Larry Young said he expected to open the store in mid-February, but today the lot is empty.
Young would not comment regarding when the dealership would open.
fafflerbach@temple-telegram
